Ofcom sets out Olympic spectrum plan

Read the full article at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/28/ofcom_olympic_spectrum_plan/

Ofcom sets out Olympic spectrum plan
Government asked to pay for it all
By Bill Ray

Posted in Wireless, 28th May 2009 07:33 GMT


UK regulator Ofcom has laid out a consultation plan for radio spectrum use during the London Olympics in 2012, ensuring that even if the games fail to be spectacular, at least the coverage will be wireless.

Ofcom reckons there'll be more than 21,000 accredited media personages descending on London come July 2012, who will want 350 wireless mics, 75 simultaneous HD video streams - three of which will be in the air - and a fair proportion of the 781 talkback* channels the event is expected to use, with the UK government footing the bill at the calculated market rate for enough of the electromagnetic spectrum to carry it all.

Channel 69 Report

The Channel 69, radio mic saga continues with this report published on the website for the department for culture, media and sport.

"Report from the Independent Spectrum Broker: findings and policy proposals

The Interim Digital Britain Report set out a Spectrum Modernisation Programme to address a range of key issues in the transition to next generation mobile services.

In February, the Government appointed an Independent Spectrum Broker to determine whether a series of market led spectrum trades between operators could be achieved to facilitate this objective. The Independent Spectrum Broker has concluded his discussions with industry, the regulator and government. He has now published his conclusions and his report and accompanying statement."

I have not yet read the whole report (it's 60 pages) but someone who has picked out the following paragraph from page 54;

"If PMSE users, who are geographically concentrated, could be cleared from Channel 69 by the second half of 2012 then a 2 x 10MHz block suitable for mobile communications would become available nationwide. However, this could impose some costs on PMSE users and were Government to consider such a move, compensation and assistance to users might provide
for a smoother transition."

You can download the whole report as a PDF or word file below.

Report from the Independent Spectrum Broker: findings and policy proposals PDF (506kb)

Report from the Independent Spectrum Broker: findings and policy proposals MS Word (775kb)

The Bristol Hum

For decades people in Bristol have reported hearing a persistent low frequency hum, it made headlines in the 70's with one newspaper asking "Have you heard the Hum?" Almost 800 people said they had. Various sources have been blamed but now Dr David Baguley, Head of Audiology at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge says over-sensitive hearing may be to blame.
Read more about the hum on the BBC website

Lock it box settings

Lock-it boxes are a very useful way of locking sound recorder and video timecode together, allowing sound to be recorded separately and / or several sound or video sources to be locked together.

The set up of the boxes depends on the device they are linked to, the frame rate and other variables.

Peter Gray, a US based Director of Photography, includes on his website a very useful list of settings for the Denecke and Lock-it time code boxes.

Panasonic AG-HVX201E P2 Camcorder

Things to look out for with this camera:
This is one of a new breed of DVC Pro HD/SD cameras that can record onto cards as well as tape.
Most of these little cameras have some way of putting the sound from input one onto both channels, so make sure to check for this if you are using more than one sound source and want to keep them separate.
The brochure for this camera is available online.

If you have used this camera and any useful hints and tips especially if they are helpful for sound recordists, please leave a comment.

Is this how sound should be used?

This is the sound of a Mosquito Ultrasonic Teen Deterrent designed to be played in areas teenagers are gathering and causing a nuisance. It's pitched at 17Khz which won't be heard by most adults but can be heard by teenagers and children. If you couldn't hear that, you might be able to hear this version at a slightly lower 15Khz it will give you an idea of how annoying it would be to remain in an area where this noise was present.

Is this though a fair way to treat our young people? And even if it is what about the teenagers and younger children who are doing nothing wrong also be affected by the noise? The National Youth Agency and others involved in the Buzz Off Campaign say that the device is neither a fair nor reasonable way for a civilised society to treat young people and are calling for the end to the use of all ultra-sonic dispersal devices, of which there are estimated to be 3,500 in use across the country.

There is evidence however that some young people are using this sound to their advantage by using the mosquito sound as a phone ringtone only they and not teachers or parents can hear allowing them to leave their mobile phones on in school.

Other links:
The Mosquito
Sonic Weaponry
Buzz Off Campaign
The Mosquito in Bristol

Today's "one man band"

Musical Tractors

This made a few sound recordists laugh this morning on IBSNet (email group of the Institute of Broadcast Sound). If you have never found tractors entertaining before then try out this clip!

Countryfile in Romania

Here's something that I worked on a while ago. BBC Countryfile's special report filmed in Romania.

New BECTU Website

BECTU the broadcasting and entertainment union have launched their new website. You can now even join the union instantly online.
The new site includes sub-sites for each branch so members will be able to keep in touch and find out what is going on in their area.

Hard Road West - documentary movie

I've just completed a website for a colleague who has made a docu-drama called Hard Road West about the "Donner Party".

April 1846. The United States are just 69 years old and 2 families, with no experience of exploration, embark on a marathon journey into the unknown. California, at that time Mexican territory, is 2,400 miles away and, travelling by wagon train at 2 miles an hour, they hope to reach their 'promised land' in about 150 days. They don't.

Fated by extreme weather, undermined by human error, ravaged by hunger, two ordinary families are driven to the very edge of endeavour and endurance.

This is their story as told by the survivors...

"Even the wind seemed to hold its breath as the suggestion was made that, were one to die, the rest might live". Eliza Donner.

Find out more about the film and watch some clips at www.widescreenpictures.co.uk - The Donner Party documentary